Drug smugglers stopped 19 times over weekend

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized approximately $5.2 million worth of narcotics and $450,000 in unreported U.S. currency over the weekend in 19 separate smuggling attempts, authorities said.

Smugglers were caught with marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroine at six land ports along the California-Mexico border. More than 1,000 pounds of drugs were seized.

In one incident at the Otay Mesa entry point Saturday, a 20-year-old Mexican male citizen was caught with 78 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at approximately $1.6 million, hidden under the floor of the vehicle.

The next day, a 19-year-old female American citizen was caught at the Andrade port of entry in Winterhaven with 21 pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $321,000 hidden in her car.